Recoverite (AES vol 7.13)

Exactly what your body craves after workouts!

By Steve Born

Spring has finally arrived! That means
you're out running, cycling, paddling,
or whatever your chosen sport may be,
with more frequency and for longer
periods of time. If you're preparing for
any races, you know that this time of
year is when training volume begins to
peak, and those key races are right on
the horizon.

Whether you're a weekend warrior or a
full-blown racer, post-workout recovery
plays an essential role in accomplishing
your fitness goals. Proper recovery will
ensure that you:

Taking the steps to recover fully and
completely between your workouts is
as important a component of athletic
performance as any equipment used and
any training plan employed. PERIOD!

When your body doesn't receive the
nutritional support it needs after
a workout, it's simply not going to
respond favorably. The time it takes to
recuperate is prolonged, muscle tissue
doesn't heal and rebuild as quickly or
thoroughly, you'll feel sorer for longer
periods of time, and the potential for
getting sick - courtesy of a suppressed
immune system - increases. Plus,
you miss out on the brief "window of
opportunity" that your body gives you
to store greater amounts of the onboard,
ready-to-use fuel known as muscle
glycogen.

If you make the effort to recover
properly after every workout, your body
will more efficiently and effectively
absorb all of the hard work you've done
in training. That leads to increased
fitness and better overall health, the
primary goals of exercise. Remember,
how well you recover today will be a
huge factor in how well you perform
tomorrow.

The "do's" and "don'ts" for optimal
recovery

1.) DO replenish your body with
complex carbohydrates ASAP.
When your workout's completed, your
body is on "empty" and needs rapid
replenishment to restore depleted
glycogen stores. Why is this important?
Because when you begin a workout or
race, the primary fuel your body uses
for the first 60-90 minutes is muscle
glycogen. Studies show that the preexercise
muscle glycogen level is the
most important energy determinant for
exercise performance, so athletes who
have more of this readily available fuel in their bodies should have a definite advantage.

The good news is that you can substantially increase your glycogen storage capacity through the process of training and then replenishing ASAP after your workout, and the sooner the better! Research has shown that glycogen synthesis and storage is highest when subjects are given carbohydrates immediately after exercise, ideally within the first 60 minutes.

2.) DON'T consume junk foods or fuels! Some so-called "experts" suggest that you can eat darn near anything after your workout and enjoy maximum recovery - one cycling coach even suggests that soft drinks are acceptable. Seriously? You've just thrashed your body in training and now you're going to consume junk, believing that optimal recovery is a given? Once again, the oft-used adage "garbage in, garbage out" applies here. If you consume garbage food after your workout, that's what you can expect your recovery to be: garbage. By the way, if you're still under the belief that chocolate milk - touted as a great recovery drink - is ideal, check out the article on the next page.

Always remember that what you put in your body determines what you'll get out of it. If you want your recovery to be as good as possible, feed your body with high-quality food or fuel, containing ample amounts of complex carbohydrates and sufficient amounts of protein.

3.) DO consume whey protein isolate with complex carbohydrates. Carbohydrates can't do the job alone; you need protein as well, ideally whey protein (choose isolate over concentrate), which provides the following benefits:

Raw materials to rebuild stressed muscles - Whey protein is the premier protein source of the three branched chain amino acids used for muscle tissue repair.

Enhanced glycogen storage - Research has shown that the consumption of carbohydrates plus protein, versus carbohydrates alone, is a superior way to maximize post-exercise muscle glycogen synthesis.

Immune system maintenance - Whey protein is loaded with immune system-
boosting lactoferrin and immunoglobulins, as well as high levels of amino acids that spur the production of glutathione, arguably the most powerful antioxidant there is.

4.) DON'T consume fiber and fat with your recovery fuel. Fiber and healthy fats (such as fish oil) are good for overall health; however, don't consume them with your recovery food or fuel shortly following your workout as they slow down the digestive process significantly. After a workout, you want carbohydrates and protein absorbed into your system right away, so save the high-fiber foods and healthy fat consumption for another meal.

Summary

Give your body what it needs immediately after exercise when it's most receptive to replenishment, and it will respond wonderfully by recovering faster, adapting to physical stress more efficiently, and storing more readily available muscle glycogen as fuel in the muscles. Within the first 60 minutes after you finish your workout (remember, the sooner the better), it's crucial to
replenish your body with high-quality fuel.

Recoverite provides your body with an ideal 3:1 ratio of complex carbohydrates and whey protein isolate, plus other nutrients beneficial for recovery. Use Recoverite consistently to get maximum value out of every minute you put into your training and the equipment that you use. Available in four delicious flavors, Recoverite has a mild, pleasant taste that you'll enjoy. Mix a couple of scoops with water, drink, and you're done . . . simple! You've just put the best possible "finishing touches" on your workout, and you've given your body the perfect head start on tomorrow's workout.

Go online or give us a call, and order a supply of Recoverite today. We guarantee that Recoverite will be the best post-workout/race fuel you'll ever use. HN